How often are Railway Emergency Calls made?

[robintw]

I've come across Railway Emergency (Group) Calls on the GSM-R radio equipment in various places (principally in RAIB reports) and have seen some training videos for them on YouTube. I've often wondered: how often are they actually used? Could a signaller manage to go his entire career without receiving one? Or do they happen fairly regularly? Presumably they are unusual enough that receiving one as a signaller is still a bit of a 'heart stopping' moment?

 

[SignallerJohn]

How often: some drivers are more prone to using them when an urgent call would suffice, but I’m not judging them because a REC is better than a normal call (which I’ve experienced a few times)

Most signallers will hear them in multi manned locations at least a handful of times in their career. Your guys in single manned locations may get one every so often but I’d say it’s a bit rarer. I know some signallers who have done 10 years without a fatality, some do 6 months and have multiple. It’s a coin toss.

I’ve had a lot of them and it’s something you don’t really get used to because of how horrible they sound, and chances are it’s not going to be an enjoyable call.

 

[ComUtoR]

Personally I've had 2, missed 1. Made a couple of emergency calls to the Signaller but not pressed big red yet, although I've been in the cab when the other Drivers have hit it. If you hit someone you would press the REC so consider those.

I've had cause recently to read our daily logs. The railway is a crazy place. So much goes on across our patch, I can only imagine what happens network wide.

 

[Stuart-h]

AS a track man Iv only ever made 1 emergencey call to the signaller.

 

[irish_rail]

I've had about 5 , only 1 made by me when someone was trying to commit suicide. The others included drivers reporting cows on line , trains having spad'd, drivers reporting trespassers and that kind of thing. The trespasser one was funny, it brought the GWML to a standstill from paddington to Hayes apparently all because someone was walking along the cess at Southall!

 

[coxxy]

Ive only been driving for 5 years. Made 3, never heard one from another train or signaller.

 

[py_megapixel]

I don't work in the railway, so I hope people don't mind me jumping on this thread and asking a couple of questions.

I understand (I think) that a REC is a broadcast which can be originated by a driver on his/her cab radio, or by a signaller, is heard by all signallers and drivers in the area, and is intended for emergency situations where their attention is needed immediately. Is that correct?

I've heard a lot of reference on these forums to them sounding horrible... I assume that this is some kind of alert tone that they trigger in the cab? What does this sound like?

Are all trains in the area expected to stop immediately upon hearing an emergency call?

 

[headshot119]

I don't work in the railway, so I hope people don't mind me jumping on this thread and asking a couple of questions.

I understand (I think) that a REC is a broadcast which can be originated by a driver on his/her cab radio, or by a signaller, is heard by all signallers and drivers in the area, and is intended for emergency situations where their attention is needed immediately. Is that correct?

I've heard a lot of reference on these forums to them sounding horrible... I assume that this is some kind of alert tone that they trigger in the cab? What does this sound like?

Are all trains in the area expected to stop immediately upon hearing an emergency call?

I don't know what they sound like in the cab, but the fixed terminals in signalboxes make the "Star Trek Red Alert" sound.

For accessibility the media link is to a YouTube video of the sound to which I am referring.

 

[Mintona]

I’ve not yet had cause to make one, long may that continue.

I have received three in the cab. First time a signaller sent a stop to all trains in area, I was already stationary. Second time was another driver calling in a fatality, although the incident was nowhere near me and the call shouldn’t have come to me, must have been a gremlin in the system somewhere. Third time was a freight driver in a yard pressing it accidentally, according to the signaller.

 

[irish_rail]

Oh and the other quirk I have heard about but not experienced, is a driver on the WCML near Wembley sends the call out and due to the GWML proximity it brings the GWML to a stop as well as the WCML!

 

[voyagerdude220]

I (Station Staff, not Driver) once had to make an emergency call to the Signaller a few years ago to report that a person had been hit by a train which had just arrived in the Station.

Thankfully I didn't see the incident happen and the person survived.

The Driver of the train involved wasn't aware that the train had hit someone (it was travelling at a slow speed and I'm guessing the person went down the side of the train, not directly in front of it).

 

[185143]

I'd be interested to know what the most common reason for making a REC would be. I'd assume trespass and/or fatalities?

I'm sure I've heard at least one story on here of cleaners accidentally pressing the big red button in the depot though!

 

[vikingdriver]

I'd be interested to know what the most common reason for making a REC would be. I'd assume trespass and/or fatalities?

I'm sure I've heard at least one story on here of cleaners accidentally pressing the big red button in the depot though!

Bumped into a rather large tree, which is probably an understatement as it was big and thick enough to make me dive on to the floor to get away from the cab window. Was obstructing both lines so stopped the job.

 

[Flange Squeal]

I'd be interested to know what the most common reason for making a REC would be. I'd assume trespass and/or fatalities?

In the eight or so years since GSM-R replaced CSR on my patch, I've only had cause to use the red button twice. Once for a trespasser and the other for stumbling across a tree that had fallen across the adjacent running line (good timing too as the approaching train on that line came into view just as I pressed the button, albeit thankfully not at linespeed having not long departed a nearby station). I have however heard perhaps six or seven in that time. The first was in the very early days and was an accidental press by another train and another was due to the egress on a plug door being pulled on the off side. The other five or so have sadly all been due to people having been hit by other trains. I don't know if statistically the London suburban area has a particularly higher proportion than other areas, or if I've just always been in the wrong place at the wrong time! As well as the controlling signaller and other trains within the relevant cells (on the suburban lines in London, you can end up halting trains on unconnected lines!), emergency calls can also be heard by Control. I'd say typically people being struck and trespass would be the most likely causes, however in more remote areas I guess the balance may shift more in favour of obstructions (be it animal or results of weather). I sadly don't have any facts or figures to back that up though.

 

[headshot119]

In the eight or so years since GSM-R replaced CSR on my patch, I've only had cause to use the red button twice. Once for a trespasser and the other for stumbling across a tree that had fallen across the adjacent running line (good timing too as the approaching train on that line came into view just as I pressed the button, albeit thankfully not at linespeed having not long departed a nearby station). I have however heard perhaps six or seven in that time. The first was in the very early days and was an accidental press by another train and another was due to the egress on a plug door being pulled on the off side. The other five or so have sadly all been due to people having been hit by other trains. I don't know if statistically the London suburban area has a particularly higher proportion than other areas, or if I've just always been in the wrong place at the wrong time! As well as the controlling signaller and other trains within the relevant cells (on the suburban lines in London, you can end up halting trains on unconnected lines!), emergency calls can also be heard by Control. I'd say typically people being struck and trespass would be the most likely causes, however in more remote areas I guess the balance may shift more in favour of obstructions (be it animal or results of weather). I sadly don't have any facts or figures to back that up though.

As well as control the relevant ECO is patched onto the call as well.

 

[CAF397]

I don't work in the railway, so I hope people don't mind me jumping on this thread and asking a couple of questions.

I understand (I think) that a REC is a broadcast which can be originated by a driver on his/her cab radio, or by a signaller, is heard by all signallers and drivers in the area, and is intended for emergency situations where their attention is needed immediately. Is that correct?

I've heard a lot of reference on these forums to them sounding horrible... I assume that this is some kind of alert tone that they trigger in the cab? What does this sound like?

Are all trains in the area expected to stop immediately upon hearing an emergency call?

I've made one and received two. The adrenalin kicks in when you are making it, but there's an ever so small pause after pressing the red button whilst the system connects you to the signaller, and the other trains in the area, that allows you just enough time to compose yourself. It also becomes push to talk so the conversation becomes structured.

If you receive it in the cab, you get the loud audible alarm and STOP Emergency displayed on the screen. You bring your train to a stand, and then press a button to acknowledge that you have stopped. The signaller sees your acknowledgement that you have stopped, so depending on the emergency any train not responding would need to be dealt with.

 

[bunnahabhain]

I've made some urgent calls, but never an emergency call (fortunately). I have been in the cab when we've received one, and I've also had my driver give an REC after an attempted suicide which was a bit odd, as I'd just used GSMR to contact control, then had the emergency call start broadcasting just as we were coming to a stop approaching a signal, I thought that the driver had stopped because of the emergency call, then heard the head code and it took me a few seconds to twig that it was my train making the call!

 

[Mintona]

Oh and the other quirk I have heard about but not experienced, is a driver on the WCML near Wembley sends the call out and due to the GWML proximity it brings the GWML to a stop as well as the WCML!

There’s a ‘perfect spot’ just outside Victoria where you can bring the Kent, Sussex and Wessex mainlines to a stand.

 

[Bald Rick]

I’m not a frequent visitor to signalling locations, but I’ve heard one when a train brought the wires down.

I've had cause recently to read our daily logs. The railway is a crazy place. So much goes on across our patch, I can only imagine what happens network wide.

Yup!

I'd be interested to know what the most common reason for making a REC would be. I'd assume trespass and/or fatalities?

In the early days, it was accidental activations, usually by cleaners! Now it’s most likely to be because of members of the public in a place of danger.

 

[pompeyfan]

There’s a ‘perfect spot’ just outside Victoria where you can bring the Kent, Sussex and Wessex mainlines to a stand.

queenstown road Battersea / Battersea flyover.

sadly there’s been several fatalities on the Sussex side of Clapham junction which will also be disruptive to Wessex and the LO side.

I recently found out that it’s standard practice for a lot of TOCs guards to have the GSMR booted up, but wouldn’t be practical on London commuter TOCs made of several units.

 

[dk1]

I have pushed the red button twice in the last 10 years. Hit the yellow button a few times. When it comes to receiving a REC that's happened three times & all where on a nearby route that wasn't relevant to me & therefore on the move in a matter of minutes.

 

[sw1ller]

5 years driving I’ve never hit the REC nor have I received one. That being said, I SHOULD have received one where I actually received a “contact signaller” message which resulted in me passing the affected area at 70mph and having a cat B SPAD. I really wasn’t happy with that one.

 

[bengley]

5 years driving I’ve never hit the REC nor have I received one. That being said, I SHOULD have received one where I actually received a “contact signaller” message which resulted in me passing the affected area at 70mph and having a cat B SPAD. I really wasn’t happy with that one.

I would imagine the signaller would have told you to stop if you'd contacted him quickly enough

 

[martin2345uk]

What kinds of things have people pressed the Yellow button for? I have been driving alone for like 3 months, so haven't even had to contact the signaller yet, let alone the Big Scary Buttons

 

[bunnahabhain]

What kinds of things have people pressed the Yellow button for? I have been driving alone for like 3 months, so haven't even had to contact the signaller yet, let alone the Big Scary Buttons

A chap hiding in bushes next to the down line at the North end of Heeley loop near Sheffield, the line curves so the driver of a down train would have no visibility of him. We stopped and as my rear cab was next to him I just blew the horn at him quite a lot until he got the message we knew he was there. Bobby was informed by me and the driver both using our yellow buttons.

 

[LowLevel]

I've used the yellow button once when I heard a bang from a train passing me at 125 mph but wasn't sure what the issue was and it carried on going. Turned out a chunk of class 91 (pushing) had come loose and was bouncing off the four foot.

My driver used it once when we passed one of our trains and our respective cabs filled up with acrid brake smoke. He rang the box and I rang our control emergency number. Brakes dragging on a class 158 - not a particularly regular occurrence. Train ended up being failed and assisted in rear by an Anglia 170 as they had to isolate the brakes on the rear coach.

 

[LAX54]

I don't know what they sound like in the cab, but the fixed terminals in signalboxes make the "Star Trek Red Alert" sound.

For accessibility the media link is to a YouTube video of the sound to which I am referring.

We have often wondered from day 1 in training years ago.....how much did that cost to licence !

 

[Horizon22]

Personally I've had 2, missed 1. Made a couple of emergency calls to the Signaller but not pressed big red yet, although I've been in the cab when the other Drivers have hit it. If you hit someone you would press the REC so consider those.

I've had cause recently to read our daily logs. The railway is a crazy place. So much goes on across our patch, I can only imagine what happens network wide.

Ooh the daily logs sure are an interesting read! Onto the question at hand across my network, there's probably lets say 4-8 a year based on incidents where REC calls are made and result in severe disruption. I've seen them for fatalities, major dewirements and significant obstructions (large trees, cows etc.).

There’s a ‘perfect spot’ just outside Victoria where you can bring the Kent, Sussex and Wessex mainlines to a stand.

I am aware of drivers on GWML just outside Paddington also being directed to the wrong box by GSMR, and on one occasion being routed to a box at Victoria

 

[ungreat]

4 times
All fatalities

 

[TheEdge]

What kinds of things have people pressed the Yellow button for? I have been driving alone for like 3 months, so haven't even had to contact the signaller yet, let alone the Big Scary Buttons

I've pushed the yellow button when I spotted a group of kids running down the bottom of an embankment but away from trains. I pushed the red button when (long story) a couple of runaway kids walked off the end of the platform at Norwich in the middle of a night shift.